Give spot awards the
moment great work happens
Managers give named awards with optional rewards in Slack and Microsoft Teams. You choose who can give, set every budget, and see each award in one report.
What are spot awards?
A spot award is recognition a manager or leader gives for a specific achievement, right after it happens. Unlike a spot bonus, which is cash paid through payroll, a spot award is a named award that can carry a reward or none at all. In Matter, leaders give spot awards in Slack and Microsoft Teams, next to the kudos teammates send every day.
Pick who gives each award
Choose Award Managers for every award, from any team member to executives. Matter sends each one a message with a button to give.
Budgets that never go over
Give each manager a fixed or unlimited coin budget that refreshes weekly, every two weeks, monthly, quarterly, yearly, or never. Matter blocks any award that would go over.
Give spot awards in Slack and Microsoft Teams
Pick an award, choose people or a whole group, and add a message in Slack, Microsoft Teams or the web. Post it publicly or send it privately.
Real rewards, or none at all
Attach Matter Coins that people redeem for eGift cards and premium gifts from 10,000+ brands. Or turn rewards off and keep the recognition.
Your program, on the record
Rename the program to fit your culture, like Impact Awards. Download a report of every award, giver, recipient and coin.
Our company’s culture & morale changed overnight! In under 2 months, we’ve had over 2,000 kudos sent and 80%+ engagement across all employees.
2x
Employees who are not recognized enough are twice as likely to say they will quit within a year (Gallup (opens in a new tab)).
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a spot award and a spot bonus?
A spot bonus is extra cash, usually paid through payroll. A spot award is broader. It is a named recognition moment for a specific achievement, shared publicly or privately, and it can carry a reward or none at all. In Matter, a spot award is given in Slack or Microsoft Teams with an award banner and your message, and can include Matter Coins people redeem for gift cards.
What are some spot award examples?
Matter ships eight ready to use spot awards: Above and Beyond, Culture Champion, Customer Hero, Employee of the Month, Innovation Award, Outstanding Achievement, Rookie Award and Unsung Hero. Each has its own animated banner. You can edit the default message, upload your own image or GIF, or create new awards that match your company values.
How do you keep spot awards fair?
You choose the Award Managers for each award and set their budgets. Matter sends them a message when they are added, blocks any award that would go over budget, and keeps every award on the record, so HR can see who gave which award, to whom and how often.
How do spot award budgets work?
Each Award Manager gets an unlimited or fixed coin budget. Fixed budgets refresh weekly, every two weeks, monthly, quarterly, yearly, or never. 10 Matter Coins equal $1 USD. Matter blocks any award that would go over budget, and admins can download a report of every award, giver, recipient and coin.
Can we give spot awards without money?
Yes. Rewards are optional. Turn them off and spot awards still post with the banner and your message, so you can run a recognition program with no cash at all. When you add coins, people redeem them in Matter Rewards for eGift cards and premium gifts from 10,000+ brands, plus company swag and charity.
How are spot awards different from kudos?
Kudos are peer to peer, and anyone can send them every day. Spot awards are given by the people you choose, with named awards, optional rewards and budgets you set. Most teams use both: kudos for everyday thanks, spot awards for the moments a leader wants to make official.
Which Matter plans include spot awards?
Spot awards are part of Matter Pro, along with rewards, company swag and challenges, and they are included in every Enterprise plan.
Are spot awards taxable?
In the US, cash, gift cards and anything redeemable for them are taxable wages under IRS Publication 15-B, whatever the amount. The achievement award exclusion covers only tangible items given for length of service or safety, so spot awards for performance do not qualify. Rules differ by country, so talk to your tax advisor before you set reward amounts.